World’s first openly gay head of government to join The WorldPride Human Rights Conference 2014

World’s first openly gay head of government to join The WorldPride Human Rights Conference 2014

Leaders, Thinkers and Activists from 60 countries to participate

By Georgie Krokus

Published: 2014.04.07 12:32 AM

TORONTO, ON – April 7th — The WorldPride Human Rights Conference 2014 announced that former Prime Minister of Iceland, and the world’s first openly gay head of government, Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir will be among the presenters from 60 countries in next year’s international gathering, June 25-27, 2014 in Toronto.

International LGBTI leaders will gather in Toronto for WorldPride 2014 for a dialogue about LGBTI rights, as human rights, around the world and the issues affecting our communities. More than 400 submissions have been received from activists, academics and LGBTI leaders.

Hundreds of LGBTI rights leaders from around the world will speak, including: Russian activist and journalist Masha Gessen; Ugandan LBGTI activist Frank Mugisha; Kenyan human rights lawyer Justice Monica Mbaru; Venezuelan trans activist Tamara Adrián; and Canadian global HIV/AIDS leader Stephen Lewis. Panelists will address issues ranging from education and youth, HIV/AIDS, sex work, trans rights, employment, aging and other human rights issues. A full schedule for the conference will be announced early in 2014.

“We’re excited that LGBTI leaders from every part of the world – Uganda, Russia, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, to name just a few – will be participating,” says conference co-chair Doug Kerr. “The diversity of proposals and ideas submitted is amazing and we are excited by the caliber and breadth of the content that will be presented.”

About WP14 Human Rights Conference WorldPride 2014 Toronto

The WorldPride Human Rights Conference 2014 is a partnership between Pride Toronto and The Mark S. Bonham Centre for Sexual Diversity Studies at University College, University of Toronto, taking place June 25 — 27, 2014, it provides a unique opportunity for a global dialogue about LGBTTIQQ2SA human rights.